A judge blocked the six-month moratorium on new deepwater drilling imposed by the Obama administration after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a ruling the White House immediately said it would appeal.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court on Monday lifted a nationwide ban on the planting of genetically engineered alfalfa seeds, despite claims they might harm the environment.

WASHINGTON — A senior U.S. military official in Afghanistan tells The Associated Press that Gen. Stanley McChrystal doesn't know whether he'll keep his job when he appears at the White House on Wednesday.
The official says the general has been given no indication that he'll be fired — but no assurance he won't be.

WASHINGTON — Members of a watchdog panel on Tuesday pressed Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on looming losses for banks and foreclosure relief for struggling homeowners, as he assured them that taxpayers are recovering their investment from the $700 billion financial bailout.

NEW YORK – A Pakistan-born U.S. citizen pleaded guilty to trying to bomb Times Square and says he is "part of the answer to the U.S. terrorizing the Muslim nations and the Muslim people."

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court has upheld a federal law that bars "material support" to foreign terrorist organizations, rejecting a free speech challenge from humanitarian aid groups.

ATLANTA — For the first time, abuse of painkillers and other medication is sending as many people to the emergency room as the use of illegal drugs.

Chastened by heavy criticism from lawmakers, a grim-faced BP chief executive Tony Hayward said Thursday he was "deeply sorry" for his company's catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
"I understand the seriousness of the situation, the frustrations and fears that continue to be voiced," he told a House investigations subcommittee.
But before testifying, Hayward had to endure more than an hour of mostly unrelenting criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike.

A death row inmate who had used a gun to fatally shoot two men suffered the same fate Friday morning as he was executed by a team of marksmen - the first time Utah used the firing squad to carry out a death sentence in 14 years.

A jubilant celebration over the Los Angeles Lakers' dramatic win in the NBA championship game turned rowdy in scattered sections of the city, with raucous revelers hurling rocks and bottles at police, setting fires and jumping on vehicles.
Police spokesman Cleon Joseph said Friday 38 people had been arrested, most for public intoxication and others for vandalism and inciting a riot.